Michael Avenatti domestic violence charge: Ex-wives defend lawyer

Attorney Michael Avenatti arrives for a hearing on May 30, 2018, in a case brought by Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, to limit prosecutors’ review of documents seized from his home and office.(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)

WASHINGTON – Both of Michael Avenatti’s former wives defended the Los Angeles lawyer after he was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of domestic violence.

Avenatti’s first wife, Christine Avenatti Carlin, said on Twitter that Avenatti was always a kind and loving father and husband. “He has NEVER been abusive to me or anyone else,” she said. “He is a good man.”

His second wife, Lisa Storie-Avenatti, denied reports on a gossip website that she was the victim. Through her attorney, she said she wasn’t at Avenatti’s apartment when the alleged incident occurred, had never been abused by Avenatti and never knew him to be violent.

“First Mueller and now me. When we are fully exonerated I am coming for you Jacob Wohl,” Avenatti wrote.

The 47-year-old lawyer became a ubiquitous face on cable television news this year after Daniels sued Trump to get out of her confidentiality agreement with the president. Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford, said Trump paid her $138,000 to keep quiet about a sexual encounter just before the 2016 election.

Avenatti also represents Julie Swetnick, one of several women who accused Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct during his confirmation hearings in September.

Swetnick recanted some of the allegations, and the Senate Judiciary Committee asked the FBI to investigate whether Avenatti criminally conspired with Swetnick to “make materially false statements to the committee.”

Contributing: Steve Kiggins in Los Angeles.

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